Unlike Bette Davis, Greta Garbo or many of the other iconic celluloid
divas that dominated the silver screen during the Golden Age of Hollywood, Joan
Crawford hasn't always been remembered for her stunning, immense body of work.
For those unfamiliar with her contribution to classic films such as Mildred
Pierce (which garnered her only Academy Award), The Women and
Grand Hotel, Crawford is probably best known for her latter-day
performances in campy horror films like Trog or the crazed mom who allegedly
screamed "No more wire hangers!" at her adopted daughter (an incident documented
in Christina Crawford's book, Mommie Dearest, and immortalized by actress
Faye Dunaway in the outrageous 1981 biopic of the same name).

However,
documentary filmmaker Peter Fitzgerald has made it his personal mission to
remind movie-lovers that while Crawford may have experienced a rocky personal
life, on the big screen, she reigned supreme. It's a fact he clearly brings to
light in his 90-minute documentary Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie
Star, a project specially commissioned by Turner Classic Movies to launch
the cable channel's month-long, 41-film tribute to the cinematic
idol.

"I felt like
it was time to finally pay honor to one of Hollywood's greatest stars,"
Fitzgerald explains. "Turner Classic Movies was so impressed with the
documentary, they decided to devote the whole month of August to showcasing
Crawford's most memorable films. That makes me happy, because I hope those films
and The Ultimate Movie Star will not only satisfy her long-time followers
but bring her a whole new legion of fans."

Narrated by
Anjelica Huston, The Ultimate Movie Star paints a vivid and compelling portrait
of Crawford's rise from obscure MGM contract player Lucille Le Sueur to one of
the most loved leading ladies of the 20th century. In telling her extraordinary
story, Fitzgerald combines excerpts from many of her most famous films, rare
footage, photographs and vintage newsreels with the often fond memories of her
closest friends, co-workers, lovers and family members, all recently interviewed
exclusively for the documentary. Featuring the recollections of actor Cliff
Robertson, biographer Bob Thomas, director Vincent Sherman, co-star Betsy
Sherman, columnist Liz Smith and adopted daughter Christina Crawford, Joan
Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star provides viewers with a fascinating
glimpse inside both Crawford's public and very private personas.

"I didn't want
to do a puff piece and ignore the more controversial aspects of Joan's life -- I
wanted to present the whole story," Fitzgerald admits. "That's why I wanted
Christina to participate. I thought the best way to go about this piece -- since
Mommie Dearest casts such a dark cloud over the Crawford image -- was to include
it. I wanted to let the audience decide what was true and what
wasn't."

For those who
worked with the actress, though, the only truth one really needs to know about
Crawford is her dedication to her craft.

"Joan was a
perfectionist and demanded perfection from everyone around her," recalls Betsy
Palmer, who starred with Crawford in the 1955 melodrama Queen Bee. "She
was supposed to be a bitch, but she was the nicest person you could ever meet.
It's just that she didn't have time for people who weren't professional. She
wanted things to be perfect. That's what made her a great actress."

According to
Fitzgerald, The Ultimate Movie Star is not only a celebration of Crawford's
indisputable talent and how it's influenced generations of performers, it's a
chance to see a side of the legendary actress few have ever witnessed
before."

"Part of
Crawford's greatness comes from the fact that she was chameleon and a great
promoter of herself," he says. "Entertainers like Madonna owe a great debt to
Crawford in terms of reinventing one's self for public consumption. Film stars
are American royalty, and Joan Crawford is definitely the first queen of
Hollywood. But, I really want people to see the woman behind the legend and why
the public was so in love with her. It's an incredible story, and I'm just
thankful I was the one given the chance to tell it."

Joan: the ultimate
trivia

Although she appears statuesque in most of her films, Crawford stood a
mere 5' 4"

Crawford and Bette Davis were notorious arch-enemies. The source of their
hatred for each other? Davis once said she couldn't stand anyone "who slept with
every male star at MGM except Lassie." While Crawford claimed she never disliked
Bette, she did say, "I don't
see how she built a career out of a set of mannerisms, instead of real acting
ability."

Director Steven Spielberg's first professional assignment was a segment
of Night Gallery, starring Crawford. "I was 21 years old," he remembers.
"The first words out of her mouth to me were, 'My God,
people will think you're my son!' " Even though she
tried to have him replaced, the two worked well together. "She treated me more
professionally than most of the young actors I worked with in subsequent years,"
he says.

Crawford retired from acting in 1974 at the age of 66 for reportedly
being shocked at the way she looked in a current photograph.

According to Crawford, an actress needed only two things to make it in
Hollywood -- "Talent, of course, and a good hairdresser."